Animated Christmas television special
Kung Fu Panda Holiday Also known as Kung Fu Panda Po's Winter Wonderland is a 2010 American animated Christmas comedy drama television special produced by DreamWorks Animation and directed by Tim Johnson. A spinoff of the Kung Fu Panda franchise, the special stars the voices of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, David Cross, Lucy Liu, James Hong and Jack McBrayer. The special premiered on NBC November 24, 2010,[1] and its premiere broadcast drew 5.9 million viewers.[2]
Plot
Master Shifu assigns Po to host the annual Winter Feast at the Jade Palace, a highly ritualized formal occasion that all the kung fu masters of China attend, insisting on the perfection of the event. Although excited, Po also wishes to spend the holiday with his father, Mr. Ping, and rejects the finest chefs in China's attempts to have him cater the event. However, Mr. Ping believes Po is more concerned with his duties as the Dragon Warrior, and adamantly remains at his restaurant to feed the townsfolk, who have nowhere else to eat for the holiday.
Guilt ridden, Po tries to cook the banquet by himself, but is quickly overwhelmed by the various responsibilities that come with it, further complicated by the interference of Wo Hop, a rabbit chef Po had accidentally disgraced, and is desperate to die at the hands of the Dragon Warrior to redeem his honor. A comment from Wo Hop that "kung fu can't solve everything" inspires Po to enlist the Furious Five to complete the preparations for the feast while he has the still-suicidal Wo Hop help him in the kitchen.
On the night of the Winter Feast, Po realizes that he should be with his father for the holiday, and excuses himself before the masters so he can help Mr. Ping prepare food for the townsfolk. For his part, Mr. Ping, who has been struggling with the business alone, realizes he was being unfair to his son for attending to his larger responsibilities, and apologizes to him. With this reconciliation, father and son prepare their feast with polished skill.
Moved by Po's loyalty to his family, the Furious Five and the other masters participate in the festivities with the townsfolk. Additionally, Po is able to restore Wo Hop's honor by presenting him with the Golden Ladle originally intended for the chef selected to cook for the masters' banquet. Shifu is initially mortified that everyone abandoned the feast, but on seeing the merry time everyone is having at the noodle shop, he realizes Po did the right thing, creating a truly perfect event with his father. Although Shifu turns to leave, Po persuades him to join them, firmly asserting Shifu's place with his family.
Reception
In her review for Common Sense Media, Emily Ashby praised its positive messages and role models, from which Po "learns that listening to your heart is the best way to make the right decision, and his choice inspires others to do the same".[3]
